Metal jar-closure.



N0. 80l,284. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. A. L. WEISSENTHANNER.

METAL JAR CLOSURE.

APPLICATION I-ILEDJULY 22.1904.

nnl mm HII HIHIIHL g/pi/bwmag ALFRED L. IVEISSENTHANNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METAL JAR-CLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed July 22,1904. Serial No. 217,732.

To all. whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. \VnIssnN- THANNER, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Metal Jar-Closures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sheet-metal stoppers for bottles, jars, &:c., and particularly to stoppers having a depending flange inclosing a suitable sealing medium and adapted to be forced into locking relation with a shoulder located near the mouth of the bottle or jar.

As heretofore constructed stoppers of the class referred to have been provided with continuous flanges having detachable connections, the intention being to form the stoppers of sufliciently thin material to enable them to be readily removed when the connected portions of the flange are separated and to so dispose a detaching tongue that the force supplied to the tongue will release the flange and permit the stopper to be removed. These stoppers fail, however, for two principal reasons. In the first place, in none of the prior devices is the construction such that the flange may be readily released by applying force to the tongue, the detachable connections thereof being atthe same time strong enough to effectively hold the contents of the receptacle under pressure. In the second place, in none of the prior devices is the construction such that the stopper may be readily detached from the bottle even when the connected portions of the flange are separated.

My invention has for its object to provide a construction whereby the stopper may be readily removed from the receptacle by the ordinary user without the exercise of special care or skill.

More particularly, the objects of the invention are to provide in a stopper 0f the class referred to a construction whereby a comparatively slight force will serve to so release the flange from the shoulder of the receptacle that the stopper may be readily removed.

Other objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following description.

I have found that by weakening the flange of the stopper throughout a considerable extent of its circumferential direction and providing means whereby the weakened portion of the flange may be readily ruptured the stopper may be easily removed without the exercise of special care or skill.

In accordance with one feature of my invention therefore the flange of the stopper is provided with a plurality of circumferential weakened parts separated by portions adapted. to be easily ruptured. In accordance with the best construction the flange is also provided with means for facilitating the rupture of said portions. In the best embodiment of the invention said means for facilitating the rupture of the weakened portion of the flange consists of a tongue. In the best construction the tongue is circumferentially arranged within the limits of the flange and is longitudinally stiffened, so that it may serve as a lever to facilitate the rupture of the parts.

In the best construction, also, the flange is stiffened in a circumferential direction adjacent to one or more of the circumferential weakened portions, whereby the rupture of the portions between the cuts is further facilitated.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the flange of the stopper is made integral therewith and is provided along its lower edge with a plurality of projections adapted to be bent into locking relation with the shoulder of the receptacle. In the 'best construction the circumferential cuts are arranged to substantially correspond in a circumferential direction with certain of said projections and preferably also with the spaces between said projections.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the flange is vertically weakened adjacent to or within the limits of one or more of said circumferential weakened portions. In the best construction the circumferential weakened parts are formed by circumferential cuts arranged in substantial alinement with each other and separated by short integral portions of the flange adapted to be easily ruptured in a circumferential direction, and the flange is weakened vertically by partly severing it within the limits of one of said cuts in such manner as to form a circumferentially-arranged tongue adapted to facilitate the rupture of the portion between the circumferential cuts.

The invention further consists in the novel with the description herein to illustrate the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a stopper constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being shown as applied to the mouth of a receptacle. Fig. 2is a diagrammatic view representing the flange of the stopper before it is applied to the receptacle, the same being developed or extended so as to illustrate its full length in a single plane; and Figs. 3, 4:, 5, and 6 are similar views illustrating modified forms of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and at first more particularly to the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the stopper comprises a top or crown portion 1, having an integral depending securing-flange 2 adapted to be bent at its lower edge into locking contact with a shoulder formed by the lower edge of a rib 3, provided at the mouth of the receptacle L in the usual manner, a suitable packing, as a disk 5, being arranged between the top 1 and the upper surface of the rib 3. For the purpose of facilitating the release of the flange from its locking relation with the rib 3 and the removal of the stopper from the receptacle the flange of the stopper is provided with a plurality of circumferential weakened portions. These weakened parts may be formed in any suitable way. In accordance with the best construction, and as shown, the circumferential weakening of the stopper is effected by a plurality of circumferential cuts, four being shown, and for convenience referred to by the numerals 6, 7', 8, and 9, the same being arranged insubstantial alinement and separated by short flange portions 10, 11, and 12, adapted to be easily ruptured in acircumferential direction. These portions 10 11, &c., may be ruptured in any suitable way. In accordance with the best construction, and as shown, the flange of the stopper is vertically weakened adjacent to one of the cuts 6, preferably by partly severing the flange vertically, as at 18, in such manner as to form a circumferentially-arranged tongue 14,the base of which is located adjacent to one of the portions separating the circumferential cuts, as the portion 10. To facilitate the rupture of the flange at the base of the tongue let, the latter, in accordance with one feature of my invention, is stiffened in the direction of its length, as by providing it with a rib 15, and in the best construction the flange of the stopper is also stiffened in a circumferential direction adjacent to the circumferential cuts, as by the ribs 16, so that the tongue and the parts of the flange adjacent to the portions to be ruptured may act as levers to multiply the l force exerted thereon and may exert that force in an effective manner on the parts to be ruptured. This operation is facilitated by slightly staggering the stiffened parts of the tongue in the flange with relation to the longitudinal cuts in such manner as to provide an easilybending part or fulcrum for each of the leverlike portions, which fulcrum is located closely to the part to be ruptured. In accordance with another feature of the invention the flange of the stopper is provided at intervals around its lower edge with recesses 17, which form between them the corresponding series of locking projections 18, said locking projections, and preferably also the spaces between them, being constructed in proportion to sul stantiall y correspond with the circumferential cuts 6 7, &c. By reason of this construction the ribs formed by the inward bending of the locking projections serve to increase the stiffness of the flange in a circumferential direction adjacent to the corresponding circum ferential cuts, and the recesses weaken the flange at or near the parts to be ruptured, so that the lever-like action of the circumferential stiffened parts of the flange is more fully realized. It is obvious that the inwardly-turned flanges of the locking projections may be alone depended upon to stiffen the flange circumferentially, so that the stitfeningribs may be omitted at those portions, if desired.

In place of having one tongue arranged at one end of a series of circumferential cuts, as

illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, two or more tongues may be providcd,as illustrated in Figs. 3, t, and 5, the same being arranged adjacent to each other and pointing in opposite directions, as in Fig. 3, or at intervals and pointing in the same direction, as in Fig. i, or being arranged at the opposite ends of the circumferentially-weakened part of the flange and pointing in opposite directions, as in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 3, the flange 19 is provided with three circumferential cuts 20, 21, and 22, two tongues 23 and 24 being provided by partly severing the flange in a vertical direction at the center of the cut 21. In aocordauce with this construction the tongues 22 and 2-1 are preferably provided with short locking projections 25 and 26, arranged near their base to more securely fasten the stopper to the receptacle and prevent liability of leakage. In Fig. 4-. the flange is provided with four cuts 27, 28, 29, and 30, the two tongues 31 and 32 being formed by the cuts 27 and 29 and by partly severing the flange in a vertical direction at one end of each of said cuts. In Fig. 5 four cuts 33, 34 35, and 36 are provided, the two tongues 31 and 38 being formed by partly severing the flange at the ends of the cuts 33 and 36. As there are only two portions of the flange to be ruptured, each of the constructions shown in Figs. 3, a, and 5-- to wit, those located at the bases of the two tongues in each of these constructions the stiffening of the flange, in addition to the stilfening of the tongues, is rendered undesirable.

In each of the stoppers so far described the flange is partly severed from the lower edge upwardly, so that the flanges are practically rendered circumferentially discontinuous along the line of locking contact. As this severing of the flanges has a tendency to weaken the same, it is desirable where high pressures are to be used to have the flange circumferentially continuous and preferably circumferentially integral along or near the circumferential line of locking contact. This may be accomplished in any suitably way. Such a construction is shown, by way of example, in Fig. 6. In this figure the tongue 39 is formed in the flange adjacent to one of the locking projections thereof, the cut 40, forming the lower side of said tongue, being terminated a short distance from one of the recesses between the locking projections in such manner that when the tongue is pulled outwardly the short section 41 of the flange between the end of the cut 40 and the recess will be ruptured, together with the section 42 between the circumferential cut 48, forming the upper side of the tongue, and the adjacent circumferential cut 44. In other respects the construction shown in Fig. 6 is substantially the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

My invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the particular constructions herein shown and described, nor to any particular construction by which it has been or may be carried into effect, as many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the main principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sheet-metal stopper having an integral depending securing-flange, said flange having a plurality of circumferential cuts arranged in substantial alinement with each other and separated by portions adapted to be easily ruptured in the line of said cuts.

2. Asheet-metal stopper having an integral depending securing-flange, said flange having I a vertically-weakened part, and a plurality of circumferential cuts arranged in substantial alinement and separated by portions adapted to be easily ruptured in the line of said cuts.

3. A sheet-metal stopper having an integral depending flange provided with a plurality of locking projections arranged at intervals and a plurality of circumferential cuts separated by portions adapted to be easily ruptured, said cuts being spaced to substantially correspond with certain of the locking projections.

4. A sheet-metal stopper having an integral depending securing-flange, said flange having a plurality of circumferential cuts separated by portions adapted to be easily ruptured, and said flange being circumferentially stiffened adjacent to certain of said circumferential cuts.

5. A sheet-metal stopper having adepending securing-flange, said flange having a plurality of. circumferential cuts separated by portions adapted to be easily ruptured, and said flange being circumferentially stiflened adjacent to certain of said circumferential cuts.

6. A sheet-metal stopper having an integral depending securing-flange, said flange having a plurality of circumferential cuts separated by portions adapted to be easily ruptured and a stiffened tongue within said flange adapted to facilitate the rupture of one of said portions.

7. A sheet-metal stopper havingadepending securing-flange, said flange having a plurality of circumferential cuts separated by portions adapted to be easily ruptured and a stiflened tongue within said flange adapted to facilitate the rupture of one of said portions.

8. A sheet-metal stopper having an integral depending securing-flange, said flange having a plurality of circumferential cuts separated by portions adapted to be easily ruptured and a stiffened tongue adapted to facilitate the ruptu re of one of said portions, and said flange having a stiffened portion adjacent to one of said cuts to facilitate the rupture of another of said portions.

9. A sheet-metal stopper having a depending securing-flange, said flange having a plurality of circumferential cuts separated by portions adapted to be easily ruptured and a stiffened tongue adapted to facilitate the rupture of one of said portions, and said flange having a stiffened portion adjacent to one of said cuts to facilitate the rupture of another of said portions.

10. A sheet-metal stopperhaving an integral depending securing-flange, said flange having a circumferentially-arranged stiffened tongue and a circumferential cut terminating at or near the base of the stiffened portion of the tongue.

11. A sheet-metal stopper having a depending securing flange, said flange having a circumferentially-arranged stiffened tongue and a circumferential cut terminating at or near the base of the stiffened portion of the tongue.

12. A sheet-metal stopper having an integral depending securing-flange, said flange having a circumferentially-arranged stiffened tongue and a plurality of circumferentialcuts separated from each other and from said tongue by portions adapted to be easily rupportions adapted to be easily ruptured and means adapted to facilitate the rupture of one of said portions, and said flange having a stiffened portion adjacent to one of said cuts to facilitate the rupture of another of said portions.

15. A sheet-metal stopper having a depending securing-flange, said flange having a plurality of circumferential weakened parts sepeozaeea arated. by portions adapted to be easily rap IO tured.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALFRED L. WElSSENTHANNER. Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, PENNINGTON HALSTED. 

